"...They can coordinate with each other to some extent, they're more powerful when more of them are active, there are some things that can be done only when their wielders are working together."

"Coordinate how, and what sorts of things?"

...She looks uncomfortable and shakes her head minutely.

"Okay. I'm sorry."

Back to staring.

It takes her a little while to relax after that.

The artifact continues to be super complicated.

He doesn't have many more questions after that.

Mara will want to break for lunch and dinner but is otherwise content to be stared at all day.

And Edie?

Does he mind being left alone while she runs errands?

Nah.

Then she will not be there the whole time but she can at minimum arrange a time to pick him up.

He's all set to stare a lot, then!

This is acceptable.

The opal continues to be really, really complicated.

Yeah he won't have made much progress by the end of the day but 'not much' is not 'none.'

Mara expresses willingness to do this again sometime.

He would love to do this again sometime, looking at magic is very enjoyable.

She smiles slightly at this.

Eventually Edie should arrive, though.

Yeah, it doesn't take much longer before she touches down again, crystal wings chiming.

She is so pretty.

"Well, that sure is a look on your face," she observes.

"You're so pretty."

"That is a good reason for that look on your face," she says, and hugs him.

Hug! "Wish I could show you what I can see. You're beautiful, but the way the magic behaves around you, it's like a gorgeous frame around a gorgeous painting."

"...Telepathy spell," she reminds him.